Although acerola are now found growing in most sub-tropical regions of the world, linguistic evidence seems to point to the Yucatan as a point of origin for this fruit. Cultivated in southern Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, the largest plantings are in Brazil. Acerola is a fast growing bushy shrub or small tree with small pink and white flowers. The fruits are round and ovoid with three lobes, and are said to have a pleasant, tart taste. They are bright red when ripe, and come to maturity approximately 25 days after the first buds appear. The fruit of the acerola is the richest known source of natural vitamin C in the world. They are usually picked when still green, because in this state they have almost twice as much vitamin C as when fully ripened.